johnson



July 8, 1952 J. v. JOHNSON WELL. CEMENTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET l @ww/W1 M55 Y ZO-HA/so/v INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 8, 1952 J. v. JOHNSON WELL CEMENTING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fileld Aug. 25, 1945 dn/f5.5 V- zzHNso/v INVENTOR BY y ATTORNEY WMD STATE Patented July 8, 1952 s .EPATSENTF oFFica-;

, WELL CEMENTING APPARA'IUS James? Johnson, San Marino, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Appuaunugust 23, 1945,'seria1 No. 612,201

- lClaims. (Cl. 1166-1) This inv'entionrelates to apparatus particularly''useful.inthe cementing of casings,l liners and similarconduits inwellbores.

L i It is an object f the present invention to profvidean improved casing apparatus capable of alflowingy circulating fluid tobe discharged through Y "the'lower end cfa casing string, but which,V nevp. ertheless, can positively prevent -cementitous ma- ,terialsv from `being deposited below such lower end "either from vwithin or externally along the appa- Iratus. L l f A furtherobject of the invention is to provide ian'iimproved apparatus for preventingcement slurry from moving', either internally or exter- `nally Vof the casing, below the general location oi vthe casing cement discharge point, without impeding free up anddownmovement of the casing string prior to performance ofthe cementing op- ,e'ration.'r

Yet anotherV object of the invention is to provljvide "an improved simple and compactdevice'lfor .'releasably securing an annular barrier in retracted position against a well casing'member.

vStill a further object of the invention is to pro- "vide an apparatus embodying an improvedgdevice fior controlling casing cementing ports and the expansion` of an annular barrier against the wall of a well bore.

Y This; invention hasother objects that will te- "come apparent from vr a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying andj'forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail to .illustrate the general principlesof the inventionfbut it is to be vunderstood thatl such detailed descriptionis not to be taken in a limited sense, since y the scope ofthe invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings "Figure 1 is a longitudinal View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the apparatus with q its parts in position for longitudinal movement in vboth directions within a well bore; Figure! 2 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure' 1, disclosing the apparatus in condition for Q Acementingthe casing within a well bore;

Figure 3 is an enlargedpartiallongitudinal sec- "fftion'A 'of the annular-barrier or basket retaining the drawings, the apparatus comprises va casing shoe orcollar Al and an annular barrier'in-the -form of a metal petal basket B, whose lower-'end Ill is welded or otherwise secured to the tubular member l I of the shoe below'its lateral outletsor ports I2. The shoe forms the'lowermost part of a casing string by being attached to an upper adjacent casing string C.

The tubular member I I contains la tubular body I3 whose spaced lower and upper ends Ill, I5 engage the inner wall of thetubular member, .with

the upper head end I5 threaded `on the intervening reduced medial portion I6 of the body. Leakage between the ends rof the body and the tubular 'member is prevented in both directions .by eny gagementof suitable side seals I l, I I on the body ends I4,I5 with the wall ofthe membenl The Vbody I3 is prevented from moving longitudinally fwithin the 'tubular member II by engagement of its lower end I4 with a ball stop I8 and its'head end'I with-a shoulder I9 projecting inwardly from the tubular member. The ball stop I8 is held in its upper position against the lower end of the `body by a cementitious plug 20 cast within the lower portion of the tubular membenfwhich has arounded nose 20a to serve as a guide for the shoe during its lowering through the hole. The Vball stop I8 has inwardly projecting radial ngers 2| to support a buoyant back pressure ball valve member 22 when circulating fluid is pumped downr through the casing and its shoe, This ball Vis movable upwardly into engagement with a valve seat 23 in the lowerend I4 of the body dur#- inglowering of the casing through the fluidV in the hole'. l

The tubular 'body has a plurality of ports or lateral openings 24'establishing communicationxbetween its interior and an annular chamber 25 formed between the medial portion I6 of the body and the tubular member I I. Fluids mayY flow from the body interior through its ports ZLl into the chamber 25, for `vdischarge through the tubular member ports I2 to the exterior of the shoe. Return flow is prevented by a back pressure 'valve 25 disposed over the exterior of the body ports 24.

YSuch back pressure 4valve may bein the form of a flexible sleeve, of rubber or similar material, .:whoseupper endis clamped between' the medial and. releasing mechanism, in the ,position dis- Y closed in Figure 1;

Figure 4 ,is a cross section taken along the line .fj AFigure V5 is a side elevation of the apparatus as seen from the right of Figure 4. 1 r-.mehgexample-of the invention illustrated in portion I6 of the body and the head I5; and whose `'lower end is free to liex outwardly to open posi- Jtion under the hydraulic action of the fluid passing outwardly through4v the body ports 2li.' Any tendency for liuids yto return into th'eseports 1i presses theflexible sleeve -26 in leakproofportv .55

c losingrelation against'the exterior of thev body.

Outward passage of fluids through the body ports 2'4 is prevented initially by a sleeve valve 21 positioned within the body and disposed over its ports. One or more shear screws 28 extending through the body and threaded into the upper end of the sleeve valve 21 hold the latter in such port closing position. Suitable side seals 29, 29 may be mounted on the exterior of the sleeve 21 on opposite sides of the ports 24 to preclude any possibility of leakage between the sleeve and body. Upon shearing of the screws 23, 4the sleeve valve 21 is moved downwardly to a position below the ports 24, opening the latter to outward passage of i'luids.

The annular barrier B, or metal peta basket, is of the general type described in United States Patent No. 2,117,538. It yconsists essentially of a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced leaf springs 30 secured to the exterior, of overlapping basket petals` 3l. The springsand petals extend upwardly from the point of spring Yattachment at the lower end of the shoe overthe ported area of the tubular member, the upper ends 30a of the leaf springs pro- Vjecting longitudinally beyond theupper ends of `thepetals 3| and being bowed Vinwardly-when unrestrained to space the `upper ends of the pet- Lals from the shoe andcause the basket B to as- --sume a general frusto-conical or bucket shape.`

'The unrestrained bowed shape of the leaf springs -.30 provides Aan inherent tendency for the basket to expand outwardly when retracted against the shoe. fr

The basket is held .initiallyVn in retracted posi- 1 tion by aA band `or strap 32 encompassing the l bowed portions'Sa of the leaf springs 30 above I the upperends of the ,petals 3l, straightening such portions and clampingthem, together with thefpetals and remainder of the springs, against -.'the exterior'of the shoe A.. AV bolt 33 extends through and between overlapping bifurcated ends 1 32a ofthe strap, through an opening 34 in the tubular member, and into a lateral cylinder 35, ,where the ,inner end of the b olt 33 is secured,- as by threading, to an enlarged piston'end 36 of the shear screw 28Ydisposedwithin the cylinder 35; 'Leakage' between the exterior of the piston 36 andeylinder. walljis `prevented by a purpose `of conditioning. the hole.

casing and all of it will be forced to pass axially through the shoe for ejection from the lower end of its plug 2B onto the sand bridge, to iiush it from the hole. After the casing string has been lowered to the desired point, circulating fluid may be pumped down the casing string for the Itis to be noted that the annular barrier or basket B is in retracted position, which permits the casing string to be moved up and down during the lcarculating operation, as desired, without any A- a tripping or .bridging member, which can be in suitable, piston ring 31 disposed within a piston f groove 38. The headl 39of the bolt engages and clamps against a washer 49 which forces the bi-e furcated ends` 32a 4of the strap inwardly around `side edges 30bof the leaf springs 30, effecting inward crimping of the strap ends 32a, to prevent their circumferential movement along `the casing 4shoe A to basket releasing position. This crimping action can occur since the widths'of the bolt head 39 and washer 40 are less than the space between the Vadjacent retracted vleaf springs 30 V(see Figure 4). n Y

The apparatus is secured to the lowermost casing section C of the casing-string with its parts` disposed in the relationship shown in Figure 1, wherein the shear screw 28 holds the sleeve valve 21 yin `closed position over the body ports 24 and the bolt 33 is secured to the shear screw to clamp the strap 32, leaf lsprings. 30, and Y petals 3l in retracted position against the shoe VA. During lowering of thecasing string'through ,.tQnsare encountered during the lowerineoperation, washing fluid can be pumped down the kthe form 'of a ball 4I, is pumped or otherwise allowed` to gravitate through the fluid in the casing until it engages a seat 42 at the upper end of the sleeve valve 21, closing the central passage through the body. The iluid pressure in the casing is then increased lto a predetermined degree to shear the screw ,28'and movethesleeve valve 21 downwardlywithinthe body against the p body shoulder 43to port opening position. .The

shearing of thelscrew 28 'also' releases the piston 36 and its. attachedk bolt 33, permitting their lateral movement in an outward direction" and removal of vthe `clampingactionof the `bolt'h'ead 39`and washer 40 from thecrimped ,endsA 32a Yof thejstrap Q32.V This r'removal of restraint from the strap releases it from the leaf "springs 3D and permits, the latter to inherently 1 assume their outwardly bowed condition, expandingthe upper .ends ofthe petals'3| againstthewall `of the well bore,Y and forming the annular barrier which may be made of a springlike material (such as box strappingiwith a tendency to'a'ssume a more or less straight line condition, rather than retain its circular shape around the basket. The tendencyfor the strap to straighten Vupon outward displacement 'of the bolt head 3 9 and washer 40'wou1d pull the crimped ends 32afro'mjthe leaf springs 3l),Vv and allow the latter, with their`at Vtached overlapping .petalsf to expand against the .wall of the hole. The releasing action is also `assisted by. fluid pressure in the easing passing vinto 'the cylinder 35 and acting on the inner end of 'the piston 36 to force it within the cylinder toward the wall of the tubular member I I. s Since the bolt 33 is secured to the piston, its head 39 will also be removed in an outward direction com- Y,pletely from engagement with the washerr 40,

" ment with the bifurcated ends32a of the' strap 32.

With the ports '24, in openposition and the basketB expanded laga'i'instthe fwall of the hole (as in Figure 27),cement slurry maybepuin'ped .down the casing string for .outward 'passage y through the body parts'24,fdisplacingthe back pressure valve 26 to one side inorder'tov enter the annular chamber 25,from where itflows lthrough thevouter ports` I2 to the. exterior of` the Vcasing fdesired elevation. l Rturnilowfftheslurry into the casing stringis prevented bythbak pres- `ing the annular barrier to damage.

hole is in condition for cementing, the cementij tious'material is prevented from passing down 'below the shoe either from within or externally of the casing, to prevent cement contamination yof the formation below the shoe, while insuring ing 34, because of the slidable sealing actionof lthe piston 36 in the cylinder 35, which also' pre- `"vents passage of fluids in the other direction'between the interior and exterior of the shoe.' The closingaction of the bridging ball 4I over 'the central passage through the sleeve valve 21 prevents passage of cement slurry centrally through the shoe A for ejection from its lower end, and the annular barrier B around the shoe -prevents the cement slurry deposited behind the casing from dropping down below the shoe. Any producing zonefthat might be present belowthe shoe is, therefore, protected from contamination bycement slurry.

' Itis apparent that a well cementing apparatus r-has been provided which permits concentrated jetting action of circulating uid during the well washing operation and its free circulation around the casing. Prior to the cementing operation the casing can be moved longitudinally in both directions through the well hole without subject- After the that an effective" cementitious bond is obtained between the casing string and the wall ofthe hole above the lowerend of the shoe.

' Iclaim:

l. An apparatus of the character described inrcluding tubular means having a port and adapted 'v to form partof a 'casing string, an expan-sible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially means and barrier for releasably holding said rshiftable means in closed position with respect to saidport and for releasably holding said'barrier in retracted position on said tubular means'.

2. An apparatus of the character described in- Ycluding tubular means having a port and adapted to form part of a casing string, an inherently expansible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surrounding well bore, means within said tubular means for controlling uid flow through said port, and

` means engageable with said barrier and comprising instrumentalities vpassing laterally through said tubular means, said instrumentalities being engageable with said controlling means for releas'ably holding said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means. y

3. An apparatus of the character described inf cluding tubular means having a port and adapted to form part of a casing string, an outwardly eX-A jpansible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surroundfing well bore, shiftable means for controlling 1f viiuid flow through said port, means engageable with said barrier comprising instrumentalities `'releasably attached to said controlling means for i fholding said barrier in retractedposition onsaid tubular means; and means movable downwardly through said casing string into engagement with said controlling means to shift said shiftable meansand effect release of said instrumentalities v from said controlling means and permit outward `expansion of said barrier from its retracted position.

4. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means having a port and adapted to form part of a casing string, an outwardly expansible annular barrier mounted on; and surrounding said tubular means vto form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surrounding well bore, shiftable means for controlling fluid iow 'through said port, means attached to said controlling means for holding said controlling means in closed position over said port, means securedto said 'attaching means and ,engaging said barrier for holding said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means, and means movabledownwardly through said casing string into engagement with said Y controlling means to shift said shiftable means anddisrupt `said attaching means and allow `movement of said controlling means to port opening position and also permit outward expansion of said barrier from its retracted'position.

5. An apparatusof the character described including tubular means adapted to form partof a casing string, an outwardly expansible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surrounding Well bore, hydraulically operable means within said tubular-means releasably secured to said barrier to hold said .barrier in retracted position on said tubular means, said hydraulically operable means being mounted for movement transversely of said tubular means,

vreleasable holding means engaging said hydraulically operable means to Aprevent release of said hydraulically operable means from said barrier,

vsaid hydraulically operable means being communicable with the interior of said tubular means to be subjected to and moved transversely by fluid under pressure within said tubular means to a position of release from said barrier when'said holding means is disengaged from said hydraulically operable means.

6. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means adaptedto form par-t of a casing string positioned in a well bore, an outwardly eXpansib-le annular barrier mountedon and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular bridge be- Y tween said tubular means and wall of the lwell bore, a sleeve within said tubular means, means barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially 1 continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surrounding well bore, a sleeve within said tubular means, means releasably secured toA said sleeve and engaging said barrier for holding said annular barrier in retracted position ,-on said tubular-means, and means adapted to be sent down said casing string into engagement with .-means comprising frangible :'securedto said sleeverand connectedto said ysai'dsleeve to shift said-sleeveande'ffect release otsaidholding-means from said sleeve;

8. `An apparatus ofthe character described -in- -vcludin'g tubular means having a port and adapted toiorm part of a casing string, anoutwardly expansible annular barrier mounted on andwsu'rrounding-said tubular means to forma circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubulary means and the wall of a surrounding well bore, a sleeve movable withinxsaid.v tubular means for. controlling fluid flow through said port, and'V means releasablysecured'toisaid sleeve and engaging said barrierl for holding said sleeve in Closedk position over said lport and'said Vbarrier in retracted` position on said tubular means for..` controlling fluid flow through said:

port, and means .comprising frangible instrumentalities secured to said sleeve .and connected tosaid barrier Ifor holding'saidsleeve in closed positionover said port and said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means.

lll-An apparatusv of the character described including tubularv means havingX-a port t and adapted to form part of a casingstring, an outwardlyfexpansible annular barrier. mounted on and surrounding said tubular means toforml a lcircumferentiallv continuous ,annularl barrier betweenisaid tubular means and the wall ofa surrounding well bore, a sleeve movable within said tubular means for controlling .nuid now throughsaid port, means comprising frangibleY winstrumentalities secured to said .sleeve and con- 4`nected to said'barrier for holding V saidsleeve'in closed position over said port andsaid barrier in retracted positionon saidtubular means, and vmeans adapted. to be sent downsaidcasing string into engagement with said sleeve to'close its cenvtral passage Vand allow hydraulic pressure to move.. said sleeve to disrupt said frangibleinstrumentalities, thereby moving said sleeve to port opening; position and allowing outward expansion-of said barrier from itsiretracted position.

'11..Anv apparatus. of. the character described including tubular. means-adapted to form part of Va casing string, an outwardly expansible annular barriermounted on and surrounding-said tubularimeans to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between saidr tubular means andthe wall of a surrounding well bore, a sleeve movable within said tubular means, instrumentalities barrier for holding said barrier in retractedposition on said tubular means, and vm-eansadapted to be sent down said casingstringinto engagement with .said sleeve to close saidlcentral passage and allowhydraulic pressure to move saidsleeve todisrupt said frangible instrunientalities, thereby allowing outward eimansion of said barrier from its retracted position.

mounted onfand surrounding saidtubular means 1 "toeformzza..circumferentially continuous annular '.bariersbetween said tubularimeans and the-wall of;.a. surrounding vwell bore, and means releasably securedA to said barrier to hold said barrier in retracted. position on said tubular means, said releasable means comprising cylinder andv piston means; movable laterally within said tubular means.'

13. -An Vapparatus of the character described including tubular means adapted to form part ofxa casingstring, an expansible annularbarrier mcuntedon.; and surrounding said tubular means to form 'a'.circumferentially continuous annular barrier betweenA said tubular meansand the wall ofa .surrounding well bore, means for releasably holding said barrier in retracted Vposition on lsaid tubular means `comprising a strapl encompassing said barrier, said holding means further includingV means-secured to said strap and extending said meansy secured to said strap to prevent-'leakmeans to Vform a circumferentially continuousy annular barrier between said tubular means-and the wall of a surrounding well bore, a strap encompassing said barrier to hold said barrier in retracted position en said tubular means, means engaging said strap and extending inwardly through said tubular means, meansproviding a seal between said tubular means and saidmeans secured to'said strap toprevent leakage through said tubularrmeans, and frangible lmeans securing. said strap engaging means in an inward position with respectt-o said tubular means tohold saidrstrapin barrier retracting position.. l

15. An apparatus of thecharacter described including. tubularv means having a port-and adaptedto form part of a casing string, an -expansible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means, a valvesleeve slidable within said tubular means for controlling fluid flow through said. port, frangible means securingsaid .sleevein closed position over said por-t, a strap releasably encompassing said barrier, and means engaging said strap and secured K means.

16. An apparatus of the. character. described including tubular means having a port and vadapted to form part of a casing string, said tubularmeans having a lateral bore therein, an expansible annular barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means, a valve sleeve. slidable `withinsaid tubular means for controlling nuid ow through said port, frangible meanssecuring said sleeve in closed position over said port, a strap releasably encompassing said barrier, and releasable piston means within said bore secured to said frangible means and engageablewi'th said strap to releasably hold said strap in position around said barrier wherein said strap holds said .barrier in retracted position on said tubular means.

17. An apparatus of thecharacter described including tubular means having Y a port and adapted to form-part of a. casing string,` said tubular means having a lateral bore therein, anV inherently expansible frusto-eonical basket 1.1 mountedpn said `tubular means, axvalve'sleeve slidable@ within Y said' tubular means franglble means securing said valve sleeve in closed position over said port, a strap releasably encompassing saidV basket, a piston within said bore secured to said frangible means, and means secured to said piston and engaging said strap to releasably hold said strap contracted around said basket wherein said strap secures said basket in retracted position on said tubular means.

18. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means having a port and adapted to form part of a casing string, an inherently expansible annular barrier mounted on .and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and the wall of a surrounding well bore, the lower portion of said barrier being in closed relation to said tubular means and the upper portion .of said barrier being adapted to expand laterally outwardly from said tubular means, means Within said tubular means for controlling fluidv flow 'through` said port, and means interconnecting said controlling means and the upper portion of said barrier for releasably holding said controlling means in p closed position with respect to said port and for releasably holding said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means.

19. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means adapted to form part of a casing string positioned in a well bore, an inherently expansible annular barrier mounted on and Isurrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentially continuous annular barrrier between said tubular means and the Wall of a surrounding well bore, the lower portion of said barrier being in closed relation to said tubular means and the upper portion of said barrier .being adapted to expand laterally outwardly from said tubular means, a sleeve within said tubular means, means releasably secured to said sleeve for holding said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means, and means for releasing said holding means from said sleeve while said tubular means is positioned in said well bore.

20. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means having a port and adapted to be connected to a casing string, an inherently expansible barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circumferentlally continuous annular barrier between said tubularr means and a surrounding well bore, the lower portion of said barrier being in' closed relation to said tubular means below said port and the upper portion of said barrier being adapted to expand laterally outwardly from said tubular means, movable means for controlling fluid now through said port, and releasable means interconnecting said controlling means and barrier for positioning said controlling means with respect to said port and for releasably holding said upper portion of said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means.

21. An apparatus of the character described including tubular means having a port and adapted to be connected to a casing string, an inherently expansible barrier mounted on and surrounding said tubular means to form a circiunferentially continuous annular barrier between said tubular means and a surrounding well bore, the lower portion of said barrier being in closed relation to said tubular means below said port and the upper portion of said barrier being adapted to expand laterally outwardly from said tubular means, movable means for controlling fluid flow through s'aid port, releasable means interconnecting said controlling means and barrier for positioning said controlling means with respect to said port and for releasably holding said upper portion of said barrier in retracted position on said tubular means, said interconnecting means being releasable upon movement of said controlling means with respect to said` tubular means. and means movable downwardly through said casing string into engagement with said controlling means to effect movement of said controlling means and release of said interconnecting means.

JAMES V. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,117,534 -Baker May 17, 1938 2,187,480 Baker Jan. 16, 1940 2,335,387 Cantin Nov. 30, 1943 2,344,120 Baker Mar. 14, 1944 2,357,145 Standefer Aug. 29, 1944 2,387,493 Brokaw Oct. 23, 1945 

